” (Emergence of early capitalism) The common consensus however is that the history of capitalism began with the advent of mercantilism in human history, which originated in Rome and the Middle East, as well as in the early Middle Ages. (The European Enlightenment Glossary: capitalism) Mercantilism is referred to “as the distribution of goods in order to realize a profit. Goods are bought at one site for a certain price and moved to another site and sold at a higher price.” (The European Enlightenment Glossary: capitalism) The spread of mercantilism was to follow the growth and development.